Portable electric space heater

ABSTRACT

A portable enclosed space heater wherein an inside wall divides the housing into front and rear compartments. A fluid reservoir and a fluid heater are mounted in the rear compartment of the housing and are connected to each other so that the fluid in the heater may be replenished from the reservoir. A reversible fan and a U-shaped radiator are both horizontally mounted in the front compartment of the housing. The heater is designed to conduct heated fluid to the radiator by thermosiphon action. The fan is mounted above the radiator with its motor disposed in the opening of the radiator so that it may blow heated air that is confined to the front compartment through the radiator and outward through air vents that are formed in the front compartment of the housing. The air vents are located in the front and to walls of the front compartment with the radiator disposed at the upper edge of the front wall vent. A cutoff switch mounted on the housing is actuated by a float and rod arrangement located in the reservoir to deenergize the fan and heater when the fluid in the reservoir falls below a predetermined level.

United States Patent Boecher [541 PORTABLE ELECTRIC SPACE HEATER [72]Inventor: William R. Boecher, R.F.D. Box

150, Cordova, 111. 61242 22 Filed: Sept. 30, 1970 21 App1.No.: 76,747

[52] US. Cl. ..219/365, 126/101, 165/122, I

219/341, 219/366, 219/369, 237/16 [51] Int. Cl; ..H05b l/OO, F24h 3/06[58] Field of Search ..219/341, 365, 36637l,

Primary Examiner--A. Bartis I Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B.Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A portable enclosed space heater wherein aninside [45]. Aug. 1, 1972 wall divides the housing into front and rearcompartments. A fluid reservoir and a fluid heater are mounted in therear compartment of the housing and are connected. to each other so thatthe fluid in the heater may be replenished from the reservoir. Areversible fan and a U-shaped radiator are both horizontally mounted inthe front compartment of the housing. The heater is designed to conductheated fluid to the radiator by thermosiphon action. The fan is mountedabove the radiator with its motor disposed in the opening of theradiator so that it may blow heated air that is confined to the frontcompartment through the radiator and outward through air vents that areformed in the front compartment of the housing. The

air vents are located in the front and to walls of the front compartmentwith the radiator disposed at the upper edge of the front wall vent. Acutoff switch mounted on the housing is actuated by a float and rodarrangement located in the reservoir to deenergize the fan and heaterwhen the fluid in the reservoir falls below a predetermined level.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAus' 1 m2 SHEET 1 (IF 2 Wi/liam R.Boecher PATENTEDAUE H912 3.681.567

SHEET 2 OF 2 Fig. 4

William R. Boecher PORTABLE ELECTRIC SPACE HEATER The present inventionrelates to a portable electric space heater'incorporating a hot waterradiator.

The present invention is an improvement of my prior U.S. Pat. No.3,139,516 which discloses a space heater having an electric fan blowingheated air through a radiator. The radiator is supplied with hot waterfrom an electric water heater,.thermosiphon action causing conduction ofheated water from the electric heater to the radiator. The previouslydisclosed device has an upstanding hot water radiator fastened to asupporting base. An electric fan is positioned adjacent the radiator andproduces a heated airstream as in the case of automobile radiatorsystems. Although the patented device performs satisfactorily, it wouldbe desirable to make the entire heater more compact. l

The improvement of the present invention resides in the utilization of aU-shaped radiator that has a central opening therein for embracing themotor of an electric fan. The motor housing is clamped to the interiorbight surface of the radiator thereby reducing the space requirement forthe radiator-fan combination.

Further, a large number of louvered ports are formed in the housing ofthe heater to effect a more widespread distribution of heated air.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along a plane passing throughsection line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along a plane passingthrough section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a plane passingthrough section line 4-4 of FIG. 3 which illustrates the construction ofan electric water heater as used in the invention.

Referring to the figures and more particularly FIG. 1, reference numeralgenerally indicates the portable space heater. Internally, FIG. 2 showsthat the heater. has a generally rectangular housing with the lower end12 thereof opened. A base panel 14 includes a central horizontal portionfor supporting the interior components of the heater. The outward endsof the panel 14 are turned vertically downwardly at 16 so that they abutthe lower interior surface of the housing. Bolts 18 are employed tofasten the panel 14 to the housing.

As seen in FIG. 1, the housing includes lateral sides 20 havingrectangular louvered ports 22 at the lower left hand corners thereof (asviewed in FIG. 1). The housing also includes transverse vertical sides24, the forward one (shown in FIG. 1) having a large louvered port 26formed horizontally adjacent the aforementioned louvered ports 22. Thetop side 28 of the housing includes two rectangular and forwardly spacedlouvered ports 30. As illustrated in FIG. 2, with the aid. of anelectric fan to be discussed hereinafter, air passes between thelouvered ports 30 and 22, 26. A carrying handle 32 is secured to theupper side 28 of the housing and facilitates transport of the portableheater from one place to another.

Viewing FIG. 3,'a U-shaped or horseshoe shaped radiator 34 ishorizontally disposed above the base panel 14. Three angle irons 36connected at their lower ends to the base panel 14 extend verticallyupwardly and provide surfaces for mounting the radiator in a fixedhorizontal position.

A cylindrically shaped electric water heater 38 is positioned below andinspaced relation to the radiator 34. A cylindrical body 40 of theheater is vertically supported by two parallel spaced angle irons 42. Ahose 44 connects thewater heater to the inlet fitting on the radiator.Hose 44 is connected to the upper portion of the cylindrical body 40. Areturn pipe 46 is connected between the outlet fitting on the radiatorand a lower point on the cylindrical body of the water heater.

Viewing FIG. 2, an upstanding support member 48 is suitably attached atits lower end to the base panel while being attached at the upper endthereof to a water reservoir tank 50. A filler tube 52 (FIG. 1) passesthrough the upper side 28 of the housing to allow the reservoir to befilled. A cap 54 is threadably engaged on the tube and closes the tubeduring periods when the reservoir is not being filled. A hose 56 isconnected between an upper fitting on the radiator and a fitting in anadjacent transverse wall of the reservoir 50. This last mentioned hoseserves as an overflow hose. An additional hose 58 is connected between afitting on the lower portion of water reservoir 50 and an inlet fittingon the lower portion of the water heater body 40. This pipe serves tofill the water heater by gravity flow.

In operation of the device, heated water in heater 38 will be caused toflow through the radiator as a result of thermosiphon action. Thisaction will necessarily occur due to the temperature difference of thewater in the water heater and in. the radiator. Hose 46 returns radiatorwater to the heater 38.

Viewing FIGS. 2 and 3, an electric air fan generally indicated asreference numeral 60 is embraced in the central interior opening of theU-shaped radiator 34. The purpose of the air fan 60 is to create anairflow between louvered ports 30 and 22, 26. As will be noted in FIG.2, the fan includes a motor 62 that is clamped against the interiorbight surface of the radiator by an arcuate clamp 64 that has endflanges suitably attached such as by welding or the like to the interiorarm surfaces of the radiator. Setscrews 66 are provided to lock the fanhousing in position. The motor is positioned vertically within thehousing of the heater so that the fan blades 68 are maintained in ahorizontal position. During operation of the fan, electrical power canbe provided with a polarity causing airflow from the ports 30 to theports 22, 26. However, with a suitable motor polarity reversal switch(not shown), the fan blades may be caused to rotate in an opposite sensethereby A safety cutoff switch is provided in the form of a V floatactuated switch 80 is secured to the top side 28 of the housing. Aprotective cover 82 is removably secured over the switch. The upper sideof the reservoir 50 is attached by suitable means such as welding to theunderside of the housing top side. Aligned apertures 92 are formed inthe reservoir and housing top side to allow insertion of a guide 90therein. An actuator rod 84 is received in the guide and is adapted forvertical sliding movement therein. The top of the rod (94) is adapted todepress the actuator 95 of switch 80 while the lower rod end terminatesdownwardly in a float ball 86. The ball floats in water 88 disposed inthe reservoir. Normally, the level of fluid in the reservoir issufficient to raise the float 86 and the interconnected actuator 84thereby closing switch 80 and providing energization of fan 60 and waterheater 38. However, when the level of liquid falls below a certainpoint, the switch 80 will be released thereby terminating electricalenergization. Thus, the float serves as a safety mechanism or cutoffswitch for the heater. Wires 96 and 98 are respectively connected to theswitch 80 and the electrical components 62, 70. A lamp 99, may beelectrically connected to the switch for indicating an empty reservoircondition. Mechanically the lamp 99 can be mounted to the top side 28(FIG. 1).

When it becomes necessary to drain the water heater, the drain cock 100(FIG. 4) located on the lower portion of the cylindrical body 40 isopened thereby allowing gravity drainage from the water heater.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable enclosed space heater comprising a housing having aninside partition wall dividing the housing into a front compartment anda rear compartment, said front compartment having a plurality of airvents for circulating air into and out of said front compartmentincluding a vertical air vent in the front wall of said frontcompartment and a horizontal air vent in the top wall of said frontcompartment, a fluid reservoir and a fluid heater mounted in said rearcompartment, said fluid heater being in communication with the reservoirto heat fluid supplied from the reservoir, a generally U-shaped radiatorhorizontally mounted in said front compartment at the upper edge of saidvertical air vent and in vertically spaced relation to said horizontalair vent, the exterior surface of the bight portion of the radiatorbeing disposed adjacent the front wall of the front compartment, saidradiator being connected in communicating relation with the heater toform a closed path for heated fluid, said inside wall confining the airheated by said radiator to the front compartment, and a fan disposedabove said radiator, said fan including a drive motor disposed in theinterior of the bight portion of the radiator and a horizontal bladeassembly to force air through the bight portion an 1 ortions of th raiat r.

2. iii? apparatus ofcla i m wherein said fan is reversible and saidfront wall vent is positioned at the bottom of said front wall wherebyair heated by said radiator may be forced out of the top wall vent whenthe fan is rotating in one direction and out of the front wall vent whenthe fan is rotating in the opposite direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, together with means connecting saidradiator to said reservoir for conducting the overflow of radiator fluidinto said reservoir, means for deenergizing said fan and said heaterwhen the fluid in the reservoir falls below a predetermined level, saiddeenergizing means including a float in said reservoir, a rod connectedto said float, and a switch mounted on said housing, one end of said rodpassing through aligned apertures in the housing and reservoir to saidswitch and actuating said switch when the fluid level in the reservoirfalls below a predetermined level, and a warning lamp connected to saidswitch for visually indicating that the fluid level in said reservoirhas fallen below a predetermined level.

1. A portable enclosed space heater comprising a housing having aninside partition wall dividing the housing into a front compartment anda rear compartment, said front compartment having a plurality of airvents for circulating air into and out of said front compartmentincluding a vertical air vent in the front wall of said frontcompartment and a horizontal air vent in the top wall of said frontcompartment, a fluid reservoir and a fluid heater mounted in said rearcompartment, said fluid heater being in communication with the reservoirto heat fluid supplied from the reservoir, a generally U-shaped radiatorhorizontally mounted in said front compartment at the upper edge of saidvertical air vent and in vertically spaced relation to said horizontalair vent, the exterior surface of the bight portion of the radiatorbeing disposed adjacent the front wall of the front compartment, saidradiator being connected in communicating relation with the heater toform a closed path for heated fluid, said inside wall confining the airheated by said radiator to the front compartment, and a fan disposedabove said radiator, said fan including a drive motor disposed in theinterior of the bight portion of the radiator and a horizontal bladeassembly to force air through the bight portion and leg portions of theradiator.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fan is reversible andsaid front wall vent is positioned at the bottom of said front wallwhereby air heated bY said radiator may be forced out of the top wallvent when the fan is rotating in one direction and out of the front wallvent when the fan is rotating in the opposite direction.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, together with means connecting said radiator tosaid reservoir for conducting the overflow of radiator fluid into saidreservoir, means for deenergizing said fan and said heater when thefluid in the reservoir falls below a predetermined level, saiddeenergizing means including a float in said reservoir, a rod connectedto said float, and a switch mounted on said housing, one end of said rodpassing through aligned apertures in the housing and reservoir to saidswitch and actuating said switch when the fluid level in the reservoirfalls below a predetermined level, and a warning lamp connected to saidswitch for visually indicating that the fluid level in said reservoirhas fallen below a predetermined level.